Isaiah 7
7
1It was during the reign of Ahaz son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin, king of Aram, marched to attack Jerusalem. Pekah, son of Remaliah, king of Israel, joined in the attack, but they couldn't conquer the city.
2When the royal family of Judah was told,#7:2. “The royal family of Judah”: literally, “the house of David.” Also in verse 13. “Aram and Ephraim have an alliance,” Ahaz and his people were terrified and they shook like trees in the forest tossed about by the wind.
3Then the Lord told Isaiah, “Take your son Shear-jashub#7:3. His name means “a remnant shall return,” with you and go and meet Ahaz. He'll be at the end of the aqueduct of the upper pool, by the road to the laundry field. 4Tell him, ‘Calm down and keep quiet. Don't be afraid or scared over a couple of smoldering bits of firewood, over the burning anger of Rezin and Aram, and of Remaliah's son. 5Aram has plotted to destroy you together with Ephraim and Remaliah's son saying, 6Let's go and attack Judah! We'll terrorize it and conquer it for ourselves, and make Tabeel's son its king.’”
7But this is what the Lord God says, “This plan won't materialize—it just won't happen! 8For the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin.#7:8. Suggesting that the plan was dependent merely on the ambition of one man. Similarly in following verse regarding Remaliah's son. In addition, within sixty-five years Israel#7:8. “Israel”: literally, “Ephraim,” the most prominent tribe of Israel. Also in the following verse. as a nation will be destroyed. 9The head of Israel is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah's son. If you don't trust in me, then you won't survive.”#7:9. “If you don't trust in me, then you won't survive.” There is a play on words in Hebrew. “In me”: supplied for clarity.
10Later the Lord sent another message to Ahaz, 11“Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether as deep as where people are buried or as high as heaven.”
12“No, I'm not going to ask,” Ahaz replied. “I refuse to put the Lord to the test.”
13Then Isaiah said, “Listen, royal family of Judah! Isn't it enough for you to wear people out? Do you have to wear my God out too? 14This is why the Lord himself is going to give you a sign. Look! The virgin#7:14. “Virgin”: or “young woman.” The word used here is inclusive of both meanings. There is however a Hebrew word that exclusively means virgin but it is not used here, so the focus is not on the issue of viriginity. Matthew's reapplication of this prophecy should not blind us to its immediate application in the time of Ahaz. In this connection the rest of the prophecy should not be disregarded which in its immediate historical fulfillment (Isaiah 8) related to Isaiah's wife giving birth to a son. In her case she was not a virgin, since she had already given birth to a son previously. will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and she will call him Immanuel.#7:14. Immanuel means “God with us.” 15He will eat curds and honey until the time he knows to refuse evil and choose the good. 16For before the boy knows to refuse evil and choose the good, the land of the two kings#7:16. Referring to king of Aram and the king of Israel. you're afraid of will be deserted. 17The Lord will make you, your people, and the royal family experience a time unlike anything since the day Ephraim split from Judah. He will bring the king of Assyria to attack you!”#7:17. “To attack you.” Supplied for clarity.
18At that time the Lord will whistle to call flies from the distant rivers of Egypt and bees from the country of Assyria.#7:18. Obviously referring to the kings of Egypt and Assyria. Their armies are referenced in the next verse. 19They will all come and descend on the steep valleys and rock crevices, on all the thorn bushes and waterholes.
20At that time the Lord will use a razor hired from beyond the Euphrates River, the king of Assyria, to shave you from head to toe, including your beards.
21At that time someone who manages to keep a young cow and two sheep alive 22will eat curds, because they produce so much milk—for everyone who survives in the land will eat curds and honey.
23At that time everywhere that once had a thousand vines worth a thousand shekels will only have brambles and thorns. 24People will go hunting there with bows and arrows because the land will be covered with brambles and thorns. 25In fact, all the hills that were once tilled by the hoe you won't want to go to because you'll worry about the brambles and thorns there. They'll just be where cattle are let loose and where sheep roam.
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Dr. Jonathan Gallagher. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. Version 4.3. For corrections send email to jonathangallagherfbv@gmail.com
Isaiah 7
7
A Message for Ahaz
1When Ahaz, son of Jotham and grandson of Uzziah, was king of Judah, King Rezin of Syria#7:1 Hebrew Aram; also in 7:2, 4, 5, 8. and Pekah son of Remaliah, the king of Israel, set out to attack Jerusalem. However, they were unable to carry out their plan.
2The news had come to the royal court of Judah: “Syria is allied with Israel#7:2 Hebrew Ephraim, referring to the northern kingdom of Israel; also in 7:5, 8, 9, 17. against us!” So the hearts of the king and his people trembled with fear, like trees shaking in a storm.
3Then the Lord said to Isaiah, “Take your son Shear-jashub#7:3a Shear-jashub means “A remnant will return.” and go out to meet King Ahaz. You will find him at the end of the aqueduct that feeds water into the upper pool, near the road leading to the field where cloth is washed.#7:3b Or bleached. 4Tell him to stop worrying. Tell him he doesn’t need to fear the fierce anger of those two burned-out embers, King Rezin of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah. 5Yes, the kings of Syria and Israel are plotting against him, saying, 6‘We will attack Judah and capture it for ourselves. Then we will install the son of Tabeel as Judah’s king.’ 7But this is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“This invasion will never happen;
it will never take place;
8for Syria is no stronger than its capital, Damascus,
and Damascus is no stronger than its king, Rezin.
As for Israel, within sixty-five years
it will be crushed and completely destroyed.
9Israel is no stronger than its capital, Samaria,
and Samaria is no stronger than its king, Pekah son of Remaliah.
Unless your faith is firm,
I cannot make you stand firm.”
The Sign of Immanuel
10Later, the Lord sent this message to King Ahaz: 11“Ask the Lord your God for a sign of confirmation, Ahaz. Make it as difficult as you want—as high as heaven or as deep as the place of the dead.#7:11 Hebrew as deep as Sheol.”
12But the king refused. “No,” he said, “I will not test the Lord like that.”
13Then Isaiah said, “Listen well, you royal family of David! Isn’t it enough to exhaust human patience? Must you exhaust the patience of my God as well? 14All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin#7:14 Or young woman. will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’). 15By the time this child is old enough to choose what is right and reject what is wrong, he will be eating yogurt#7:15 Or curds; also in 7:22. and honey. 16For before the child is that old, the lands of the two kings you fear so much will both be deserted.
17“Then the Lord will bring things on you, your nation, and your family unlike anything since Israel broke away from Judah. He will bring the king of Assyria upon you!”
18In that day the Lord will whistle for the army of southern Egypt and for the army of Assyria. They will swarm around you like flies and bees. 19They will come in vast hordes and settle in the fertile areas and also in the desolate valleys, caves, and thorny places. 20In that day the Lord will hire a “razor” from beyond the Euphrates River#7:20a Hebrew the river.—the king of Assyria—and use it to shave off everything: your land, your crops, and your people.#7:20b Hebrew shave off the head, the hair of the legs, and the beard.
21In that day a farmer will be fortunate to have a cow and two sheep or goats left. 22Nevertheless, there will be enough milk for everyone because so few people will be left in the land. They will eat their fill of yogurt and honey. 23In that day the lush vineyards, now worth 1,000 pieces of silver,#7:23 Hebrew 1,000 [shekels] of silver, about 25 pounds or 11.4 kilograms in weight. will become patches of briers and thorns. 24The entire land will become a vast expanse of briers and thorns, a hunting ground overrun by wildlife. 25No one will go to the fertile hillsides where the gardens once grew, for briers and thorns will cover them. Cattle, sheep, and goats will graze there.
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